Locking device



1950' K. J. J. MOGOWAN 2,520,848

LOCKING DEVICE Filed March 12, 1947 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

51 12126292 J .Mfiowazz. By EgM MS ATTORNEY Aug. 29, 1950 Filed March 12, 1947 K. J. J. M GOWAN LOCKING DEVICE 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 42 52 0129612 J. owan.

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IN I EN TOR.

g- 1950 K. J. J. MGGOWAN I 2,520,848v

LOCKING DEVICE Filed March 12, 1947 .7 Sheets-Sheet 4 I INVEN TOR.

K2 1212866 MZawazz BY g g- 1950 K. J. J. MQGOWAN 2,520,348

LOCKING DEVICE Filed March 12, 1947 'r Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TOR.

HIS HTTORNZY' zzyz Aug. 29, 1950 K. J. J. MCGOWAN 2,520,848

LOCKING DEVICE Filed March 12, 1947 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Eel/220691 7 Cozzmlled.

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H15 ATTORNEY Pa'tented Aug. 2 9, 1950 LOCKING DEVICE Kenneth J. J. McGowan, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to The Union Switch & Signal Company, Swissvale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 12, 1947, Serial No. 734,273

12 Claims.

1 My invention relates to locking devices and particularly to locking devices adapted for use in railway signaling applications. More particularly, my invention relates to locking devices in'-.

corporating mechanical time releases adapted for controlling outlying or non-interlocked track switches.

It is customary in railway signaling and trafiic controlling systems to provide locks for preventing unauthorized operation of railway track switches located outside the limits of interlocking plants. In such an application the lock structure is installed on ties which support the adjacent trackway including the track switch, and the lock cooperates with a member operatively connected with the points of the switch or switches in such a manner that the points can be operated only in the event that the member is free to move. The

member may comprise a lock rod connected di- .application, Serial No. 644,338, filed January 30,

1946 by William C. McWhirter and Glen V. Jefferson, now Patent 2,437,828, dated March 9, 1948.

In the case of remotely controlled looks, it has been the practice to incorporate into the lock an electromagnet effective when energized to operate to carry the control circuit for the electromagnet through a contact under the control of the crating lever of a center stand. A locking element provided for the lock prevents movement of the member (lock rod or lever) when interposed in the path of movement of such member, and perranged to be operated into or out of the path of Y movement of the lock rod or lever, according as an operating member provided for the lock is in its normal or reverse position respectively, and

the lock is arranged so that the operating member may be operated to its reverse position only when a locking dog is actuated out of locking engagement with the operating member. The operation of the locking dob to its unlocking condition may be controlled either locally or remotely,

and in the latter case the .switchman at the switch an electromagnet in conjunction with a mechaniare held at stop. This time interval is imposed by delaying the operation of the locking dog to.

its unlocking condition until after the expiration of the time interval following the preliminary operation made by the switchman. One form of a switch lock of this type is shown in a copending operator at the remote point, and another contact closed at the end of a predetermined time interval of operation of a timing relay which is set into operation by the preliminary action of the switchman at the look. In the case of locally controlled looks, it has'also been the practice to use an electromagnet in the lock for operating the locking dog and to impose the time delay period by means of an electrically operated time relay set into operation by the-prelirninaryoperation of the switchman and effective when operated to establish the energizing circuit for the electromagnetu In such locks therefore the enforcement of the time, delay period has required the use of an electromagnet, an electrically operated time relay, and usually a checking relay for the timing relay.

It is an object of my invention to provide rail- ,way switch locks incorporating novel and improved mechanical time mechanisms arranged to impose a time delay in the operation of the locking dog in place of electrically operated timing relays usually used to enforce the time delay, and which mechanical time mechanisms may be utilized to provide time delays in either locally or remotely governed switch locks.

--Another object is to provide railway switch locks comprising a unitary structure in which remote control of the locking dog is provided by cal time releaseset into operation by the preliminary operation of the lock mechanism, and in which the use of electrically operated timing and checking relays is obviated.

Another object is to provide a locking device incorporating novel and improved means mechanically connecting a time release mechanism with a locking dog and arranged to operate the locking dog from its locking to its unlocking posi tion with a snap action at the end of a predetermined time interval of operation of the mechanism.

-. 'Another object is to provide a locking device incorporating a novel and improved tripping mechanism for effecting a snap operation of a locking memben. V

Another object is to provide a novel and iming mechanism which may be used in the lockproved form of mechanical time release particularly Well adapted for use in locks in railway signaling applications.

The above mentioned and other important objects and characteristic features of my invention are obtained by incorporating into the housing of a railway switch lock fa mechanicaltime re-;

lease 'operatively connected with the operating member of the switch lock and set into operation a by the preliminary movement required of an op erator directed at securing an unlock--01 theswitch. The time release is arranged to effect opafter the expirationof the predetermined time interval of operation of the device following the eration of the locking dogto its unlocking position- 11 through 10, inclusive, and comprises a casing It preliminary operation ofg the operator and ,isr; way M provided in the lower end of support I I arranged to effect such operation either electrically or mechanically accordingas-remote control is or is not required. of the look. For rebroken through contacts of thetime release made only after the expiration of the period of opera- 3 tion of the time device, while for local control the time device is mechanicallyconnected with the locking dog by means of a tripping-mecha-m nism operative to bias the locking dog to a lock- .1

ing position and arranged when tripped off to operatethe locking dog witha snap action to its unlocking position at the end of a predetermined time interval determined by the time mechanism.

' housing Hi.

from and rear compartments 24 and .25; respec- -attached at: its upper end to a crank is.

I shall describe several forms of apparatus em-w bodying my invention and shall-then point out the novel features thereof in claims. a In the accompanying drawings, Fig. l is a fron elevational view of a locking device-embodying my invention a-ppliedto-thelock rod of a railwaytrack switch. Fig. 2- is a vertical view partially sectional, of one form of a locking mechanism 1 shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 3a is a partial view showing (see Fig. 1'). mounted on the upper end of a support H which is secured as by lag screws I2 to one or more-cross ties l3. Supported in a uideis a lock rod l5 of the usual type adapted to be secured to the points of a railway track switch (not shown) Rod =l5 is provided with an opening I 6 which-when the rod-occupies a position correspondingtothe normal position of the points of the associated switch, alignsv with and is adapted to receive alocking plunger ll pivo-tally attached to the lower end of an up-and-down rod l8 enclosed within support Hand pivotally This crank is-secured to'an operating shaft 2|) journaled in suitable bearings 2| .(see Fig. 2) provided in a supporting frame 22 secured to the bottom of A wall 23 divides housing in into tively, and-shaft zflmountedin frame 22 disposed in rear compartment 25projects through an opening 26"into front-compartment 2t and has fastened thereto anoperating member 2"! in'the form of a handle provided with a knob 28.

- The front compartment '24 .is enclosed by a door 29 hinged at'one sideof housing it and -when closed is arranged to be locked in the usual manner by a padlock (not shown) which can be operated by a trainmans switch *key. The rear compartment-=25 is similarly enclosed by a hinged a modification of a portion of the parts illustrated in Fig. 3. Fig. 4 is an elevational view sh0Wing-.

- details of construction-of the time release mechar nism illustrated in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view showing the reverse face of the time release mechanism shown in Fig. 4. Fig. G-is a vertical sectional view taken on the lines VIVI of Fig. 4. Fig. '7- is a top view showing the arrangement of the time release IXIX of Fig. 2. Fig. 10-is an isometric view showing details of thelug I20 on segment 35, and

Figrll is a vertical shown in Fig.- 1. Fig. 12 is a rear-view, partially door- 30 arranged when closedto be locked by a V padlock which may be opened only by a maintainers key. .'I-7he'doors Hand 30 each swing outwardly to give accessto compartments 24 and 25,-respective1y.

"The operating handle 21 has a normal position -N' (indicated in Fig.1) in whichthe handle rests .against a stop- 33=.pr0vided.on wall 23. lfn this position ofthe handle, plunger rod 17 occupies 'openingiii provided in'lock rod 55, thereby projecting-into the path of travel of rod ill to prevent movement of; the rod and consequently prevent any movement of .the points of the'associate'd track switch. .;.Thenormalposition N of handle :27 therefore corresponds. to. the locking sectional, of the apparatus illustrated in'Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a diagrammaticviewshowing atypical In general, the apparatus embodying my in-- vention is applicable to alocking dviceinclud-- ing the usual locking dog controlling the operation of an operating member operatively iconnected with a locking element-operated into andout of the path of movement of a member secured to the points of a track switch-in such amanner.

as to preventinovementof the points solong as the member isprevented-from movingi In the position of the switch lock... Handle 2] is manually operable to a-reverseiposition R (indicated in Fig. l) prov-idedsthat locking means referred to hereinafter ispperated toits unlocking position, and inthetreverse position R of handle 27!, crank lil actuated .byv handle .2! through shaft 2!] is operated to a =position:such.that plunger rod i1 is-actuated out ohengagement with rod l5 to permit-movement of the latter rod and of the points of the associated track switch. The reverse position R of handle -21; therefore. corresponds-to-=the-unlocked position of the. switch J locking'deviceandin-thisreverse position of handle 21 a stop 34-providedonwall 23 engages the handle-to arrest its: movement. The parts of the lockmechanism are.soarranged and proportioned that handle 21 .whenoperatedto its reverse position and released, remains in that position against stop 34 until restored to its normal position.

Formed integrally on crank 19 is a lock segment 35 provided with a notched or cut-away portion having a shoulder 36 (see Fig. l) for operating with a locking dog 3'12. The dog 31 is adapted to be operated into and out of the path of shoulder 36 and the parts are so proportioned that when dog 3'1 is disposed in the path of shoulder 36, handle 2'? can be freely moved away from its normal position N toward its reverse position R until the handle reaches an intermediate position, designated Y in Fig. 1, in which shoulder 36 engages dog 3? to prevent further movement of handle 2'! toward its reverse position and in which plunger 11 still engages opening it of rod [5 to prevent movement of that rod. Preferably, handle 2'5 is provided with latch or detent means of the type disclosed in a copending application for Letters Patent of the United States, Serial No. 693,221, filed on August 27, 1946, by William C. McWhirter, now Patent No. 2,500,616, dated March 14, 1950, for Railway Switch Locks, and which means is effective to latch handle 2i in its intermediate position against the bias of the parts tending to restore the lock to its normal position when released by the operator. Briefly, these detent means comprise a spring pressed ball carried in the knob 28 of handle 21 for cooperating with a projection or ledge 33 formed on wall 23 with the parts so proportioned that when handle 21 is in its intermediate position Y, the ball rides off the projection and engages it to latch handle 21 in that position.

Handle 21 is operatively connected with a circuit controller through the medim ofshaft 20. The controller, as shown, comprises a plurality of insulating cams 4| suitably secured to shaft 2G, a plurality of fixed contact fingers 43, and a plurality of movable contact fingers 42, one for each cam 41, operated by the associated cam into or out of engagement with the mating fixed contact fingers 43. The contact fingers 42 and 43 are secured by means of trcminal posts 44 to insulating terminal boards 3i which in turn are secured to supporting bracket 22. As shown in Fig. 3, the contact arrangement may be such that a movable contact finger 42 engages its cooperating fixed finger 43 in the normal position of shaft 28, with cam 4| shaped to operate the finger 42 away from finger 43 wh n shaft 2%? is rotated a few degrees away from its normal position. Alternatively, the contact arrangement may be that shown in Fig. 3a. wherein a movable finger 42 is normally positioned out of engagement with its cooperating fixed finger 43 and is driven into such engagement when shaft 2 is rotated a few degrees away from tis normal position. Preferably, the cams 4| are suitably shaped so that movable fingers 42 are operated out of or into engagement, as the case may be, with the cooperating fixed fingers 43 when handle 2'! is operated to a position indicated at X in Fig. l lying between the normal position N and the previously mentioned intermediate position Y at which the handle is latched by the detent means previously mentioned. The normally closed contact arrangement illustrated in Fig. 3 may be used in accordance with the customary practice to interrupt signal control circuits, etc., while the normally open contact arrangement shown in Fig. 3a may be used to establish a shunt across track circuits, etc. It is, of course, to be understood that by varying the shape and position of the surfaces of cams 4! the points at which movable fingers 42 engage or disengage the cooperating fingers 43 may be altered or changed to meet any particular operating requirement. Also, it is to be understood that if desired some or all of the cams 4i and the cooperating fingers 42 and 43 may be replaced by a drum type circuit controller provided on shaft 20 in a manner corresponding to the drum type controller shown provided for the electric lock in the previously mentioned copending McWhirter et al., application, Serial No. 644,338.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a time release mechanism designated by the refer-H ence character T, adapted to be mechanically connected with looking dog 37! to effect operation of that dog to its unlocking position. Mechanism T, as shown best in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, comprises a housing 45 fastened as by screws to a supporting member iii secured to bracket 22, and includes a push rod 47 slidably mounted at its upper end (as viewed in Fig 6) in a cap member 49 threaded into an opening provided in the top member of housing 45, and projecting through an aligned opening ll provided in the lower member of housing 45. The mounting of rod 4! permits up and down movement but preferably rotational movement of the rod is prevented by providing rod 47 with a square or hexagonal shape in that portion of the rod that projects through opening.

Ti, and by forming the opening 71 with a corresponding shape. A coil spring 48 surrounds the upper end of rod 41 and is confined between cap member 49 and a shoulder formed on rod 4'! so as to bias rod 4'? constantly to the lowermost position. The rod 4? is operatively connected through a gear train with an escapement mechanism in such a manner that operation of rod 41 upwardly against the bias of spring 48 can be effected freely but operation of rod 4? downwardly in response to the bias of spring 453 is controlled by the escapement mechanism. The gear train and escapement mechanism are mounted on shafts carried in bearings provided in front and back plates 56a and 5013, respectively, secured by screws to housing 45 to enclose the working elements of the mechanism. Rod 47 is operatively connected with the gear train by means of a segment gear 52 mounted on a shaft 5! and provided with an integrally formed crank 53 carrying a pin 15 which engages a slot iii provided on rod 41, the arrangement being such that any movement of rod 4'? is communicated to gear 52* bymeans of the movement of pin 15 of crank 53 caused by slot it. Segment gear 52 is connected through a train of gears with an escapement wheel 54 mounted on a shaft 65, the train as shown including a pinion 55 meshing with segment gear 52 and mounted on a shaft 58 provided with a rotatably mounted gear 5? having a pair of pawls 58 biased by springs 59 into engagement with the teeth of a ratchet wheel 6!! fixed on shaft 55 in juxtaposition with gear 51, the pawls 58 and wheel cooperating to permit wheel 50 to be rotated in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 5) without effecting rotation of gear 51 but effecting rotation of that gear in the event that wheel 60 operates in a counterclockwise direction. Gear 51 meshes with a pinion 6! carried on a shaft 62 provided with a gear wheel 63 engaged by a pinion 54 fixed to shaft t5 carrying the previously mentioned escapement wheel 54. A rock shaft 66 is provided with an escapement lever (51 having pawls which cooperate with the teeth of escapement wheel 54 and which lever has a slotted arm engaging a driving pin 69 carried on a balance wheel 10 mounted on a shaft H and. connected with a hair spring '1:2,"-the a rangemernbein such that rotation .of .escapement wheel 5411s converted into reciprocating: motion .ofnesoapement lever '61 which acts through itSESlOttQd and pin 69 to cause balance wheel Fall. to. oscillateopposition tov hair spring '12. .pawls of lever 6 7 18.1? shaped to provide self-starting ifoatun sfo the escapement mechanism, by coacting with the teeth of wheel. 54-=to impose a torque on lever-36;"! effective in all positions of wheel tie to pause-bailance wheel l to-oscillate. In this arrangement, shaft "I'll and escapement lever 6;! are disposed with respect to each other and proportionedso that the extreme upperend of lever :67 oscillates through an arc passing through shaft l-l just short of its axis. In order to permit oscillation-of lever 61 past shaft 1!, a portion of the :shaft is relieved by slotting to its axis, with theslot having a vflat surface perpendicular to the radius of Wheel Ill passing through driving pints. Lever 81 will oscillate past shaft "H only when the slot of the shaft provides clearance .for the lever, and this occurs only during the interval that the slotted portionof the shaft is disposed with its flat surface substantially tangent to the arc of lever El and with its unrelieved portion extending beyond that arc. When balance wheel til in oscillating rotates shaft ll slightly away from the position mentioned, the unrelieved portion of shaft ll then projects into thepathof lever-Bl to-res train movement of the lever past theshaft, thereby periodically interrupting its-movement to restrain rotation of escapement wheel t l. In this arrangement, therefore, the step-by-step control of escapement wheel 55 is established by the cooperation of lever 67 with the slottedshaft ll andthe oscillation of balance wheel Gil-is effective to move the unrelieved portionof shaft ll into and out of the path of lever 61.

Theportion'of rod 41 that projectsdownwardly from housing 45 is threaded to receive an operating nut 84 which may be adjusted to assume a wide range of positions on the rod, and the extreme lower end of the rod is enclosed by a cap nut 8-3 which cooperates with a U-shaped driving arm 8! pivoted about a pin 82 supported in frame 49. Arm 8! carries.avroller-ildengaging a cam #38 provided on shaft for operatively connecting operating handle 21 with push rodlll of time mechanism T. When handle 21 is in its normal position as representedin thedrawings, cam operates through roller .80.and the upper driving surface of arm 8! to hold cap nut 83 and rod ll to their uppermost positions, in which they are illustrated in the drawings, inopposition to thebias of spring 48. When shaft 20 isrotated out Of its normal position a few degrees (for example 12 degrees toward its reverse position R) the driving surface of cam 40 is removedfrom roller 83 which then drops clear of nut.83 and permits rod ll to be driven downwardly by spring 48 at a rate determined by the escapement mechanism and its associated gear train,.the segment gear 52 in this case rotating shaftbfiin such a direction as to drive gear 57 and ratchet wheel 66 so as to bring into play the operation of the escapement mechanism previously described. This movement of rod 4? causes a corresponding movement of operating nut M which functions in a'manner to be explainedhereinafter to trip off .a tripping mechanism which may be arranged to limit the downward travel of rod 41. When handlelZ'l is restored to its normalpositioncam 40 drivesrollerflfl upwardly so that arm 8 l forces rod 41 .to its uppermost position, the rotation of shaft iii-ena ted by sea in u e e i bein in the direction which permits ratchet wheel 50;;

may readily be effected merely by unscrewing.

housing 45 from its supporting frame t6, and lifting the mechanism away from the frame. The arrangement greatly facilitates inspection and repair of the timing unit, and not only permits the timing mechanism to be replaced as a unit but also enables the unit to be packagedseparately for shipment apart from the remainder of the lock so that the unit may be assembled'in operative relation in the lock after the casing lc has been installed at its point of use. This removable feature of the timing unit affords :protection for the delicate bearings and pivots of the unit against shock and vibration damage incident to the shipment and installation of the lock 7 device.

Additional protection against shock and vibration is provided in the timing unit by means of leaf springs 13 carried by a spring arm M fastened to plunger rod All. The springs it are proportioned toengage the shaftsof the gear train and escapement mechanism of unit T when rod 4.! is operated to-iits uppermost position, and impose a spring load on the respective shafts until rod ll moves downwardly to cause a corresponding movement of spring arm it which results in re.- moving the springloading on the shafts to permit the shafts to rotate freely in their bearings. The spring loading .is effective in the .uppermost'position of rod 4'! tcprevent damage to the bearings and pivots due to shock and vibration resulting from trains passing the point of lock installation, consequently the delicate parts of the timing unit are protectedagainst damage from the severe vibrational disturbances to which the parts necessarily are exposed when installed for use on ties supporting the adjacenttrackway.

The locking dog G'l previously mentioned forms a part of the locking means and when disposed inthe path'of shoulder 3610f segment 35 prevents movement of handle 27 past the dog so thatin this condition ofthe parts the locking means is considered to be in its locked condition. The dog 31 is operatively connected with the time release mechanism through a tripping mechanism hereinafter described effective when tripped off to operate dog 3'5 out of the path of shoulder 36 and in this condition of the parts the locking means is considered to be in its unlocking condition. The tripping mechanism cooperates with the'time release mechanism T to retain dog 3'! in its full down position in the path of shoulder 33 until'after the expiration of a predetermined time interval of operation of mechanism T following whichthe tripping mechanism is tripped ofi by mechanism '1 to operate dog 3'5 with a snapaction'to its unlocking position out of the path of shoulder 38.

The tripping mechanism, shown best in Figs. 6, i, and 8, includes a mounting bracket to which is fastened an arm's! carrying at its extreme end locking dog 3?. -Braclzet til is pivotally supported on a pin 92 journaled independing lugs 93 provided on supporting frame '46 (see Fig. 2), and is provided with an opening 94 in which a spring 951s compressed by top and bottom plates 96 and 91, the top. plate 96 bearing against a shoulder formed in opening 94 and lower plate 91 bearing against a pin or cotter key 98 carried in suitable holes in the side walls of the opening. An adjusting bolt 99 is provided for engaging top plate 96 to compress spring 95 and thereby impose a spring load on arm 9| and dog 31 to bias that dog downwardly (as viewed in Fig. 6) into engagement with segment 35. Bolt 99 is carried in a latch lever I00 also pivoted on pin 92 and provided with an extended arm I IN adapted to be engaged by an arm I02 of a re taining lever I03 pivoted on a pin I04 journaled in lugs I05 provided on supporting member 43. Another arm I06 of lever I03 is biased by a spring I01, confined between that arm and member 40, to the position where arm I02 engages arm IOI of lever I00. An operating lever I 08 also pivoted on pin 92 is provided with a lug I09 which cooperates with bracket 90 to confine a spring.

IIO, the arrangement being such that spring IIO tends to force bracket 90 and lever I00 to rotate in opposite directions about pin 92. An arm III of lever I08 is adapted to engage arm I06 of lever I03 to rotate that lever in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 6) against the bias of spring I01, the rotation of member I03 being effective to move arm I02 out of engagement with arm IOI of lever I00. Another arm II2 of lever I08 is provided for engaging operating nut 04 of time release mechanism T, the arrangement being such that in the normal condition of the parts as shown in Fig. 6, nut 84 is disengaged from arm II2 so that lever I08 is in its normal position, arm III engages arm I00 of lever I03,

I08 is also provided with a lug II3 which in the.

normal position of the lever engages a cooperating lug of lever I00. When rod 41 operates downwardly, nut 84 will engage arm I I2 of lever I08 to rotate that lever in a clockwise direction about its pivot pin 92, thereby compressin sprin IIO confined between lever I08 and bracket 90, while arm III of lever I08 rotates lever I03 in a ooun terclockwise direction about its pivot pin I04 and causes arm I02 to move out of engagement with arm IOI of lever I00. When this happens, the parts are tripped 01f so that bolt 99 no longer applies a force to upper plate 99 of bracket 90, and the energy stored in spring H0 is effective to rotate bracket 90 in a clockwise direction about pin 92 and snap dog 31 out of the path or movement of shoulder 36. A stop lug provided on the end of arm I00 of lever I03 engages member 46 to limit the rotation of lever I03 and through it, the rotation of lever I08 and consequently the downward travel of nut 04 of the time release mechanism. An adjustable bolt I I 5, shown best in Fig. 9, is provided in the path of movement of arm SI and limits the upward movement of that arm. When nut 84 is lifted away from arm I I2 by the action of cam 40 driving rod 1 for indicating the locked and unlocked condition of the device. These indicating means are shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and comprise a pivoted indicator visible through a window I23 provided in partition wall 23 of housing I0. The indicator may assume any oneof a variety of forms but as shown comprises an arcuate member I24 rotatably positioned behind window I23 and connected by a rod I25 with looking dog 31, the arcuate member i24 being operated between two extreme positions for respectively displaying Locked and .Unlocked aspects according as looking dog 31 is disposed in the path of, or is operated out of the path of, shoulder 30 of segment 35.

An emergency release may be provided for locking dog 31 and comprises a push rod I30 (see Fig. 2) slidably mounted in a bracket l3I secured to the rear face of wall 23 of housing I0 with the rod I30 projecting through the wall into front compartment 24. Rod I30 is provided with a shoulder I32 and is surrounded by a spring 933 confined between shoulder I32 and an up-turned rear portion of bracket I3I with the spring functioning to bias rod 530 to its outermost projecting position in front compartment 24. Rod I30 is provided with a knob on its outermost end and has a slot adjacent tothe knob through which a car seal I34 may be inserted and sealed. The car seal I34 prevents operation of rod I30 inwardly unless the seal is broken and removed to provide a telltale, and rod I30 is provided with an operating finger I35 which cooperates with a laterally projecting portion (see Fig. 9) of a pull rod i31 supported for up and down movement in a sleeve E38 secured to a projecting boss I39 formed on the rear face of wall 23. The lower end of rod I31 carries a horizontally projecting finger I40 (see Fig. 9) which extends underneath arm SI, and has a spring I4I confined between boss I39 and the lower end of rod I31 to bias that rod constantly to its lowermost position as illustrated in the drawings. To operate the release, rod I30 is pushed inwardly and after seal A34 is sheared off (to provide a telltale), finger l35 will be driven underneath the projecting portion of rod I31 to raise that rod upwardly against the bias of spring I4I, thereby lifting horizontal finger I 40 which engages arm 9! to operate locking dog 31 out of the path of shoulder 30. If this operation should be made while the tripping mechanism previously described is in its normal condition illustrated in the drawings, plate, 96 carried by bracket will be depressed by bolt 99 so that when push rod I30 is released and springs back to its outermost position in response to the bias of its spring I33, rod I31 will likewise be operated to its lowermost position by the bias of spring MI and arm SI will be operated to its normal position in engagement with segment 35 in response to the bias of spring imposed by the depression of plate 96 by bolt 99. The spring 95 therefore provides a yieldable connection between latch lever I00 and mounting bracket 90 so that an emergency operation of the dog can be effected manually when latch lever I00 is in its normal latching position. The spring also functions to impose a spring loading on bracket 90 effective to prevent rattling and movement of dog 31 from its locking position due to vibration caused b passing trains. i The innerface of door 29 enclosing front compartment 24 ispreferably provided withaprojection I42 which is shaped so that door- 29 can be closed and padlocked only if handle 21 oocupies'its normal position. The handle can; be

and the lower edge of slot I2I is formed with a mating bevel so that the force exerted by the operator in restorin handle 21 to its normal position, coupled with the natural bias in this position of the parts tending to restore handle 21 to its normal position, will force lug I20 into slot IZI and draw down dog 31 into engagement with segment The parts are so proportioned that after lug I29 enters slot IZI, cam 40 will engage roller 85 to drive plunger rod 41 upwardly and restore the parts of the time mechanism T to their normal wound up position. Nut 84 of rod 41 will therefore be removed from engagement with arm II2 of lever I53 prior to the time that lug I 2!! moves out of engagement with slot I2I, while cap nut 83 on the lower end of rod 41 will engage arm N2 of lever I08 to rotate that lever to its normal position, and as a result the parts of the tripping mechanism will be forced to assume their normal positions, as illustrated in the drawings. In this operation lug IIi-l of lever Hi8 will engage the mating lug of lever IM to rotate that lever to its normal position The contacts provided for cams ll will, of course, be operated by their associated cams in response to restoration of handle 21 to its normal position and it follows that when handle 2'! reaches its normal position the parts of the device will all be restored to their normal conditions illustrated in the drawings. Door 29 may therefore be closed and padlocked, it being noted that projection I42 on the door will be efiective to prevent its closure in the event that handle 27 occupies any position other than its normal position.

In the operation of this form of a locking device embodying my invention it will be noted that a mechanical time release operatively connected with a locking dog provides for operation of the dog at the end of a time interval determined by the mechanism. The mechanism therefore functions to impose a time interval before permitting unlock of switch points and obviates the use of an electrically operated timing relay heretofore required in the local control of a switch look, as shown for example in Fig. 7 of the previously mentioned McWhirter application, Serial No. 693,221, wherein an electric lock is shown controlled by a timing relay TER. Also, the tripping mechanism through which the time release mechanism. actuates the locking dog is arranged so that the locking dog is retained in its full down locking position until the end of the predetermined time interval of operation of the time release, and is then tripped off to operate the dog with a snap action toits unlocking posi-' tion, and to operate the indicator to display Unlocked. This arrangement is comparable to that obtained in an electric switch lock in which the dog is operated by the attraction of an armature to an electromagnet, and in which the movement of the dog and operation of the indicator take place immediately upon energization of the electromagnet which is effected at the end of a time interval determined by a timing relay, It follows that for local control of a switch lock, the electrical means for operating the locking dog may be dispensed with by use of apparatus embodying my invention and incorporating a time release mechanism in which the shafts are spring loaded to protect against vibration and shock of passing trains causing damage to the bearings and other parts of the mechanism.

The locking device illustrated in Figs. 1

through 10 and described hereinbefore, which, provides for only local control of the operation of the locking dog, may readily be converted into an arrangement providing for remote control by means of an electromagnet which must be energized in order to obtain operation of the locking dog. The electromagnet may be placed under the control of either or both an operator at a remote control office, and traffic controlled devices such as track relays, signal repeating relays, etc. reflecting trafiic conditions on the stretch of track including the switch points. The electromagnet may, for example, be used to control the operation of the time release mechanism T by means such as that shown in Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,193,906, granted on March 19, 1940 to John W. Logan, Jr., for Railway Signaling Systems, and in which a latch operated by an electromagnet cooperates with a time release mechanism to latch that mechanism against operation when th electromagnet is deenergized. Alternately, the electromagnet may be used to operate the locking dog as shown in the previously mentioned McWhirter et al. application, Serial No. 644,338, and may be controlled by the time release mechanism T modified to operate contacts over which the energizing circuit of the electromagnet is carried and which contacts are operated closed only at the expiration of the predetermined time interval of operation of the mechanism. An arrangement in which the locking dog is operated by an electromagnet controlled by contacts of a time release mechanism, is shown in Figs. 11 and 12 of the drawing, which illustrate the apparatus hereinbefore described modified to provide another embodiment of my invention.

Referring now to Figs. 11 and 12, the lock device illustrated incorporates a time element mechanism TI, in general similar to mechanism T previously described, arranged to control the energizing circuit for an electromagnet L which operates locking dog 31 by means similar to those shown and described in the previously mentioned McWhirter et al. application, Serial No. 644,338. Electromagnet L is supported by a plate I43 secured to frame 22 and the electromagnet has associated therewith a vertically swinging armature member I44 having a finger I45 carrying at its outer end locking dog 37. Member I44 is pivotally supported intermediate its ends in trunnion screws I 46 screwed through lugs I4! provided on supporting plat I43, and the member I44 carries an armature I48 which cooperates with pole pieces I49 formed on the lower ends of cores I58 of electromagnet L. The cores I50 are mounted in parallel spaced relation in the supporting plate I43 and are connected together at their upper ends by a backstrap I5I. Surrounding the cores are coils I52 which in practice will be connected in circuit so as to create cumulative fluxes in the cores, and which coils constitute the energizing winding for electromagnet L. Armature supporting member I44 extends rearwardly past its point or pivotal support and has secured thereto a counterweight I53 which counterbalances the weight of the armature and locking dog 31 so as to enable a reasonable degree of energization of electromagnet L to attract the armature to its energized position, and thereby lift dog 3! out of the path of travel of shoulder 36. The locking dog 31 may be operatively connected with indicating means similar to those shown in Fig. 2 but such indicating means have not been illustrated in Fig. 11 in order to simplify the drawing. The locking dog 31 may also have associated therewith an emergency release of tact fingers nsr. rod ll permit the sleeve to be moved to any one .pin l'lll.

the type shown in Figs. -2 and 9, butsuch a release has been omitted from Fig. 11 to avoid complicating the drawing.

The armature supporting member Hi l is operatively connected by a movable insulating link I55 to movable contact fingers, such as fingers lfiB, which cooperate with fixed contact fingers, such as fingers i5 1, to form circuit controlling contacts l55l5l. The contact fingers iii; and 15'! are secured byterminal posts i558 to an insulating terminal board 158 mounted on the rear end of supporting plate M3. The fingers maybe disposed as shown so as to complete a contact when armature M8 is in its full released position and to interrupt the contact when the armature is in its picked-up position, but it is to be underi stood that where desired the fingers of either or both contacts may be reversed so as to be opened or closed according as armature M8 is released or picked up.

w The time release mechanism Tl shown in Figs. 11 and i2 differs from the previously described mechanism T in that no operating nut 8 is proend of rod ill is threaded to receive an adjustable internally threaded sleeve 555 to which is secured. an insulating block 568 provided with con- The threads on sleeve Hi5 and of a wide range of positions on the rod merely by rotating the sleeve, while a lock nut 565a is provided on rod 4-? for locking the sleeve in any selected position. The lower end of sleeve Hi5 fits between, biasing Spring 48 and rod 4! so that the sleeve may be adjusted downwardly on rod l! from the position illustrated in Fig. 12. A cap 168 suitably fastened to block 15% encloses the upper end of rod il and the contact structures associated therewith. Mechanism Ti is supported on. brackets formed integrally with frame and extending rearwardly to enable mechanism TI to be mounted so that red ll operates in a line perpendicularly intersecting the axis of shaft 2b. Frame 22 is provided with an opening and with lugs I69 disposed on either side of the opening journaling pivot pin are on which is pivotally mounted on operating lever I'll carrying at one end a roller H2 disposed for actuation by cam 42 and having its other end disposed to engage cap nut 83 of rod 41. Cam to in Fig. 11 is reversed 180" from theposition in which it is shown in Fig. 3 and consequently projects underneath shaft 29, but the surface of cam Alli is shaped to correspond to the surface shown in Fig. 3 and the cam functions so that in the normal position of handle 2'5 of Fig. 11, red M is held-in its uppermost position wherein contact fingers iii? are held out of engagement with contact fingers i6 5.

of lever l! l is assisted by a spring ll? confined between lever ill and the lower member of housing 6'5, the spring urging lever ill to rotate in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 11) about Rod 47 will therefore operate downwardly in response to the bias of spring 48 at a rate determined by the escapement mechanism and associated gear train, and at the end of a predetermined time interval will actuate contact fingers it'll into engagement with fingers I64. Further operation of rod All will be averted at this time by lugs 938 provided on block 5% engaging bushing I60.

It is contemplated that contact elements I54 and it? of mechanism Tl will be included in an energizing circuit for electromagnet L, which circuit may also include a contact under the control of an operator at a remote control office and/or a contact c ntrolled by trafilc on the stretch including a track switch. A typical form of a circuit is represented in Fig. 13 as extending from one terminal of a suitable source of current, such as a battery H4, through a contact ill: under the control of an operator at a remote control office, a contact llt controlled as by track relays, positions of signals, etc. so as to reflect traific conditions on the stretch, contact l64- Mil-46d of mechanism TI and the energizing coils of electromagnet L to the other terminal of current source El i. Assuming that the remotely controlled and traffic controlled contacts H5 and are closed, electromagnet L will become energized when contact tilt-J ill-l M is established at the end or the predetermined time interval of operation of mechanism Tl. It will be obvious that the time interval of operation of rod 41 required to close contact ltd-lfil-ifid will be selooted by adjusting sleeve Hill on rod ll. The energization of electromagnet L will result in attraction of armature M8 to lift dog 3'5 out of the path of shoulder 36, thereby permitting handle 21 to be opera-ted to its reverse position to unlock the points of the associated track switch. When handle 2'? is restored to its normal position, cam as will actuate lever ill to drive rod Alfiupwardly and open contact lM-Hil-lfit.

Obviously, the typical circuit arrangement for electromagnet L shown in Fig. 13 and described hereinbeiore, may be modified to incorporate other circuit expedients for energizing the electromagnet. The circuit of Fig. 13 may for example be modified to incorporate either .or both a track circuit release feature for trains entering a siding from the main track, and an immediate release feature for trains leaving the siding and. entering the main track when traffic conditions are clear within a given zone on the main track. The track circuit release feature incorporated into the control circuit for electromagnet -L may, for example, be arranged similarly to the circuit for the switch loci: shown in Fig. 3a of Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,344,573, granted on March 21, 1944 to James J. Van Horn, for Railway Traffic Controlling Apparatus, or the circuit for the switch lock shown in Fig. 4 of a copending application for Letters Patent of the United States, Serial No, 672,395, filed on May 27, 19% by Charles B. Shields, for Railway Traffic Controlling Apparatus, in which circuits a means is provided whereby a train in the stretch affects a track circuit release of the switch look without requiring the imposition of time interval in the control of the lock. The immediate release of the locking for a train leaving a siding may for example be obtained by a circuit arranged similarly to that shown in Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,241,614, granted on May 13, 1941, to John M. Pelikan, for Railway Traffic Controlling Apparatus, or that shown in Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,367,723, granted on January 23, 945 to Harvey A. Haines, for Railway Trafiic Controlling Apparatus, which circuits include means whereby the switch lock can be released immediately without requiring imposition of the time interval if the main track stretch is clear within a given zone adjacent to the switch. It follows that the circuit arrangement of electromagnet L may be arranged to require imposition of a time delay in the operation of the electromagnet through the medium of mechanism Tl incorporated into the lock, or may provide for operation of the electromagnet independently of mechanism Tl.

It is believed that the operation of the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12 will be readily understood from the foregoing description taken in connection with the description of the operation of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 through 10, inclusive. It should however, be noted that if desired door-operated contacts may be provided in the customary mannor for the device illustrated in Fig. 11, in which a push rod H8 is mounted to be actuated by a projection H9 on door 29 so as to open or close contacts provided on terminal lboard l59. Also, it is to be noted that time mechanism Tl is freely removable as a unit from the lock structure and that the provision of electromagnet L in the lock permits cooperation between time element device TI and a remote operator in the control of the unlock of a track switch.

In this connection it will be apparent that the provision of mechanism Tl in the lock casing 50 results in a unitary lock structure incorporating .both the timing element and the locking element, and obviates the use of electrically operated timing and checking relays heretofore required and usually housed apart from the lock housing. The apparatus of Figs. 11 and 12 therefore provides in a unitary structure an electromechanical control of the locking dog which affords all of the functions heretofore provided in remotely controlled switch lock installations utilizing electrically operated timing devices.

Although I have herein shown and described only a few forms of locking devices embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a railway switch lock adapted for mounting adjacent a track switch for controlling the switch and including an operating member movable between two extreme positions, the combination including a locking dog operable into and out of a, locking position in which it prevents movement of said operating member in one direction in a predetermined position, means for operating said locking dog into said locking position in one of said extreme positions of said oper ating member, latch means cooperating with said locking dog for latching said dog in said looking position, a plunger rod slidably mounted for movement between a first and a second position, means biasing said plunger rod to its said first position, means operated .by said operating member in said one extreme position for operating said plunger rod against its bias to its said second position, said plunger rod being free to operate from its said second to its said first position when said operating member is moved in said one direction away from its said one extreme position, means operated by said plunger red when driven to its said first position by said biasing means for creating forces for operating said looking dog out of its said locking position, other means operated by said plunger rod when driven toward its first position for actuating said latch means to unlatch said locking dog and permit it to operate out of its said locking position in response to said created forces, and means for controlling the rate at which said biasing means restores said plunger rod to its said first position.

2. In a railway switch lock having an operating member operable between a normal and a reverse position and a locking dog movable into and out of a locking condition in engagement with said operating member for respectively preventing and permitting movement of said operating member from its said normal position toward its said reverse position past an intermediate position, said lock including a time element mechanism having a plunger rod biased to a first position and operated by said operating member in its said normal position against its bias to a second position, said time element mechanism arranged for controlling the rate of return of said plunger rod from its said second to its said first position when said operating member is moved away from its said normal position, the combination of means controlled by said plunger rod'in its said first position for operating said locking dog out of its said locking condition, said means comprising a pivoted mounting bracket carrying said locking dog, a pivoted latch member latching said mounting bracket against rotation, a pivoted operating lever, a compressible spring confined between said mounting bracket and said operating lever urging said mounting bracket to rotate said locking dog out of its said locking condition, means operatively connecting said operating member with said latch member effective upon rotation of said operating lever for operating said latch member abruptly out of latching engagement with said mounting bracket, and means on said plunger rod for rotating said operating lever to compress said spring and to unlatch said mounting bracket in said first position of said plunger rod.

3. A railway switch lock according to claim 2 in which said mounting bracket and said latch member and said operating lever are pivoted about a common axis, said spring confined between said mounting bracket and said operating lever urges said bracket and lever to rotate in opposite directions about said axis, and said means operatively connecting said operating lever with said latch memlber comprises a re- ,taining lever pivoted to rotate about another axis and biased into engagement with said latch member to retain that member in engagement with said mounting bracket, said operating lever being effective upon rotation to compress said spring and engaging said retaining lever for rotating that lever out of engagement with said latch member in response to rotation of said operating lever effected by said plunger rod in its said first position.

4. A railway switch lock according to claim 3 further including a spring carried in said mounting bracket engaged by said latch member for permitting rotation of said mounting bracket to lift said locking dog out of its said locking position with said plunger rod in its said second position.

5. A tripping mechanism having in combination, a first shaft, a first member pivoted about said first shaft for rotation into and out of engagement with a second member, a latch member pivoted about said first shaft and having a first position in which it engages said first member for latching said first member into engagement with said second member and rotatable to a second position in which said first member is unlatched and free to move out of engagement with said second member, a second shaft, a retaining lever pivoted about said second shaft and biased to engage said latch member to retain it in its said first position, an operating lever pivoted on said first shaft, a spring compressed between said operating lever and said first member for urging them to rotate oppositely about said shaft with said first member urged to rotate out of engagement with said second member, means for rotatin said operating lever against said spring to store energy therein, and a connection between said operating lever and said retaining lever for rotating the latter lever out of engagement with said latch member upon rotation of said operating member, whereby said retaining lever when rotated out of engagement with said latch member unlatches said firstmember to permit the energy stored in said spring by rotation of said operating lever to snap said first member abruptly out of engagement with said second member.

6. A tripping mechanism according to claim further including a second spring carried by said first member and engaged by said latch member, said first and second springs being proportioned so that said first spring will be compressed by rotation of said operating lever while said second spring remains substantially uncompressed, said second spring permitting said first member to be rotated out of engagement with said second member while said latch member is retained in its said first position.

7. In combination, a time release comprising a plunger rod biased to a first position and freely operable against its bias to a second position, means controlling the rate of return of said plunger rod from its said second position to its first position in response to its bias, an operating lever mounted for engagement by said plunger rod for rotation from a normal position to an operated position in response to operation of said plunger rod to its said first position, a mounting bracket pivoted for rotation between a normal ing lever biased to a first position in which said retaining lever retains said latch member in its said latching position and pivoted for rotation to a second position in which said retaining member disengages said latching member to permit rotation of said latch member to its said unlatching position, and means connectin said operating lever with said ret pg lever effective upon rotation of. said operating lever to its operated position for rotating said retaining lever to its said second position, said rotation of said operating so lever storing energy in said spring effective" when said retaining lever operates to its said second position to snap said mounting bracket abruptly to its said operatedposition.

8. A combination according to claim '7 further including a, member adjustably secured to said plunger rod for engaging said operating lever to rotate that lever between its said normal and operated positions, said member being adjustable on said plunger rod so as to vary said first position of said plunger rod in which said operating lever is rotated to its operated position whereby the time of operation required for said plunger rod to return from its said second to its said first position may be selected by selecting the position of said adjustable member on said plunger rod.

9. A combinationaccording to claim 8 iurther including in combination, operating means for operating said plunger rod between its said first position and said second position, said operating means having one position in which said plunger rod is operated to and held in its said second position, and another position in which said plunger rod is released for return to its said first position, means on said operating means cooperating with said mounting bracket effective in said one position of said operating means for rotating said mounting bracket from its operated to its normal position, means provided for said plunger rod {or rotating said operating lever from its said operated to its said normal position upon movement of said plunger rod from its first position to its second, and means on said operating lever engaging said latch member to rotate said latch member to its latching position when said operating lever occupies its normal position.

10. A railway switch lock having an operating member operable between a normal and a reverse position and a locking dog having .a looking position in which it prevents movement of said operating member in one direction in a predetermined position, said switch lock including a plunger rod movable between a first and a second position and operatively connected with said locking dog for operatin said dog out of said locking position when said plunger rod operates to its said first position, means for operating said plunger rod to its said second position by said 'operatin member, means biasing said plunger rod to its said first position, and a means in said time element mechanism controlling the rate of operation of said plunger rod from its said second position to its said first position com,- prising in combination, a gear train and an escapement mechanism mounted on shafts pivoted in bearings housed in said time element mechanism, means operatively connecting said plunger rod with said gear train for driving said train in one direction or another according as said plunger rod operates toward or away from its said first position, a ratchet and pawl mechanism in said gear train operatively connecting said train with said escapemen't mechanism only when said train is driven in said one direction, oscillatable means mounted on a shaft pivoted in bearings supported in said time release mechanism for controlling the operating of said escapement mechanism, and means carried by said plunger rod for imposing a spring loading on said shafts in said second position of said plunger rod for holding said shafts securely in their bearings to prevent damage resulting from vibration.

-11. A time release comprising, in combination.

a housing, a plunger rod mounted in said housing for sliding movement between a first and a second position, a spring mounted in said housing operatively connected with said plunger rod for biasin said rod to its said first position, a gear train and an escapement mechanism mounted on shafts pivoted in bearings carried by said housing means operatively connecting said plunger rod with said gear train for driving said train in one direction or another according as said plunger rod operates toward or away from its said first position, a ratchet and pawl mechanism in said gear train operatively connecting said train with said escapement mechanism only when said train is driven in said one direction, oscillatable means mounted on a shaft pivoted in bearings supported in said time release mechanism for controlling the operation of said escapement mechanism, and means carried by said plunger rod for imposing a spring loading on said shafts in said second position of said plunger rod for holding said shafts securely in their bearings to prevent damage resulting from vibration.

12. A railway switch lock comprising a unitary structure adapted for installation adjacent to the points of a railway track switch, said lock cooperating with a lockable member operatively connected with the points and movable between a normal and a reverse position corresponding respectively to the normal and reverse positions of the points, said lock comprising in comJb-ination, a locking element adapted to project into the path of travel of said lockable member for locking that member in its normal position, an operating member operatively connected with said looking element and operable between a normal and a reverse position for respectively actuating said locking element into and out of the path of said lockable element, a locking dog movable into and out of a locking condition in engagement with said operating member for respectively preventing and permitting movement of said operating member from its said normal position to its said reverse position past an intermediate position, and means for operating said locking dog out of its said locking condition, said means comprising a time element mechanism including a plunger rod biased to a first position, means operated by said operating member in its said normal position for operating said plunger rod against its bias to .a second position, means operated by said plunger rod when driven to its said first position by said biasing means for creating forces for operating said locking dog out of its said locking position effective when said plunger rod reaches said first position, and means for controlling the rate at which said biasing means restores said plunger rod to its said first position to effect operation of said locking dog.

KENNETH J. J. McGOWAN,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,535,923 Leake Apr. 28, 1925 1,710,668 Stephenson Apr. 23, 1929 2,193,906 Logan, Jr Mar. 19, 1940 2,261,396 McWhirter Nov. 4, 1941 2,342,816 Peek Feb. 29, 1944 2,355,989 McGowan Aug. 15, 1944 2,437,328 McWhirter et al. Mar. 9, 1948 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,520,848 August 29, 1950 v KENNETH J. J. MCGOWAN It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 20, lines 51 and 52, strike out the Words means in said; line 68, for operating read operation; a and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 28th day of November, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Gomm'issz'oner of Patents. 

